Expansion card retainer

ABSTRACT

An expansion card retainer includes a computer chassis having a card slot formed in a wall of the chassis. A metal tab extends from the wall adjacent the slot. A pivotable bar is attached to the wall. A flexible tongue on the bar is positioned adjacent the card slot for engagement with a card inserted into the slot. A recess in the bar is provided for engagement with the metal tab. A latch is provided on the bar for securing the bar in engagement with the wall.

BACKGROUND

[0001] The disclosures herein relate generally to computer systems andmore particularly to installing expansion cards in such systems.

[0002] Mounting peripheral cards into a chassis is tedious and timeconsuming. This creates greater production cost due to assembly errorsand greater assembly time. The common type of peripheral cards alsorequire screws to be driven into the card once it is positioned insideof the computer chassis. This also adds to assembly errors, time andcost.

[0003] Traditionally peripheral cards are aligned and secured usingscrews. Other solutions have incorporated clips and/or screws thatsecure single and multiple cards. Latches have been implemented but donot possess alignment or force distribution features. Both of thesesolutions are inadequate and/or create additional parts and handlingcost.

[0004] Therefore, what is needed is a screwless retainer for securingexpansion cards in a computer chassis.

SUMMARY

[0005] One embodiment, accordingly, provides a retainer bar that iscapable of capturing one or more cards in a single pivotable latchingmovement. To this end, an expansion card retainer includes an elongatedbar. A plurality of flexible tongues extend from the bar. A plurality ofrecesses are formed in the bar. Each recess is adjacent a respective oneof the tongues. A flexible latch also extends from the bar.

[0006] A principal advantage of this embodiment is that the cardretainer allows for easier access to the expansion cards, therebypermitting faster installation and removal time and easy end useraccessibility.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0007]FIG. 1 is a perspective view illustrating an embodiment of aportion of a computer chassis.

[0008]FIG. 2 is a perspective view illustrating an embodiment of anexpansion card retainer bar.

[0009]FIG. 3 is a perspective view further illustrating the expansioncard retainer bar and a portion of the chassis.

[0010]FIG. 4 is a frontal view further illustrating the expansion cardretainer bar and a portion of the chassis.

[0011]FIGS. 5 and 6 are enlarged partial views further illustrating theexpansion card retainer bar and a portion of the chassis.

[0012]FIG. 7 is a diagrammatic view illustrating an embodiment of acomputer system.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0013] A computer chassis is generally designated 10 in FIGS. 1 and 2.Chassis 10 includes a plurality of walls 12 a, 12 b, 12 c and a base 14.One of the walls 12 a includes a plurality of card slots 16 formedtherein. A portion of the wall 12 a has a surface 18 for receiving andsupporting an expansion card retainer in the form of a bar 20 pivotallyattached to the chassis 10 at a pivot pin 22 extending through a bracket19 and positioned at a first end F of bar 20. In this manner, bar 20 ispivotable between a first or open position O to a second or closedposition C. In the closed position C, a second end S of bar 20 latchesto chassis 10 by means of a latch 24, discussed below in greater detail.

[0014] Bar 20, FIGS. 3-5, includes a curved load distribution member 26which extends between the first end F and the second end S. A surface 28of bar 20 which engages surface 18 of wall 12 a includes a plurality ofspaced apart cantilevered flexible tongues 30. The tongues 30 are spacedto match the spacing of the card slots 16 and extend away from thesurface 28. In addition to the tongues 30, a plurality of spaced apartrecesses 32 are provided to recess into surface 28 of bar 20, forreceiving metal tabs 34, discussed below in further detail. The latch 24is a flexible member on the second end S of bar 20 and includes a catch24 a formed thereon for engagement with chassis 10. The slots 16 in wallportion 12 a extend to the surface 18. The metal tabs 34 extend fromsurface 18 of wall 12 a and are respectively adjacent the slots 16. Thetabs 34 assist in retaining the cards (discussed below) which areinserted into the slots 16. A latch receiving slot 35 extends throughsurface 18 for receiving latch 24 and engaging catch 24 a.

[0015] A card 36, FIG. 6, can be mounted in each slot 16 by means of anend bracket 37 including a lip portion 38 seating on the surface 18. Areceiver slot 40 in lip portion 38, receives the tab 34. The card 36extends from the end bracket 37 into the chassis 10, see also FIGS. 1and 2. When bar 20 is latched, lip portion 38 is sandwiched betweensurface 18 and bar 20, and tab 34 in slot 40 limits removal of card 36from slot 16.

[0016] In one embodiment, a computer system 110, FIG. 7 includes amicroprocessor 112, mounted in chassis 10, and is connected to a bus114. Bus 114 serves as a connection between microprocessor 112 and othercomponents of computer system 110. An input system 116 is coupled tomicroprocessor 112 to provide input to microprocessor 112. Examples ofinput devices include keyboards, touchscreens, and pointing devices suchas mouses, trackballs and trackpads. Programs and data are stored on amass storage device 118, which is coupled to microprocessor 112. Massstorage devices include such devices as hard disks, optical disks,magneto-optical drives, floppy drives and the like. Computer system 110further includes a display 120, which may be coupled to microprocessor112 by a video controller 122. A system memory 124 is coupled tomicroprocessor 112 to provide the microprocessor with fast storage tofacilitate execution of computer programs by microprocessor 112. Itshould be understood that other busses and intermediate circuits can bedeployed between the components described above and microprocessor 112to facilitate interconnection between the components and themicroprocessor.

[0017] In operation, a card (or cards) 36 is positioned in a slot 16 sothat lip portion 38 seats on surface 18 and tab 34 extends throughreceiver slot 40. Bar 20 is pivoted about pivot pin 22 from the openposition O to the closed position C. Latch 24 extends through slot 35which engages catch 24 a for retaining bar 20 in the closed position C.Metal tabs 34 seat in the recesses 32 and tongues 30 are resilientlyurged against a respective lip 38. In this manner, cards 36 are retainedin slots 16 and loading is distributed along bar 20 due to the curvedload member 26. The tongues 30 individually apply an equal pressure toeach lip 38 regardless of the number of cards present in the respectiveslots 16.

[0018] For release of the cards 36, latch 24 is flexed to release catch24 a from slot 35 so that bar 20 can be released from slot 35 and can bepivoted from the closed position C to the open position O.

[0019] As a result, one embodiment provides a computer chassiscomprising a wall including a plurality of card slots formed therein, ametal tab extending from the wall adjacent each slot, a bar having afirst end pivotally attached to the chassis, plurality of flexibletongue members on the bar, each tongue member being adjacent arespective slot, a plurality of recesses in the bar for respectivelyreceiving each metal tab, and a latch on a second end of the bar,opposite the first end, for securing the bar in engagement with thechassis.

[0020] Another embodiment provides a computer system comprising achassis having a plurality of card slots formed therein, amicroprocessor mounted in the chassis, a storage coupled to themicroprocessor, a video controller coupled to the microprocessor, amemory coupled to provide storage to facilitate execution of computerprograms by the microprocessor, a metal tab extending from the chassisadjacent each slot, a bar pivotally attached to the chassis, a flexibletongue on the bar adjacent each card slot, a plurality of recesses inthe bar for respective engagement with each metal tab, and a latch forsecuring the bar in engagement with the chassis.

[0021] A further embodiment provides a method of retaining an expansioncard comprising a computer chassis with a card slot formed in a chassiswall, extending a metal tab from the wall adjacent the slot, mounting acard adjacent the slot, extending a lip of the card into engagement withthe metal tab, providing a bar pivotally attached to the chassis,extending a flexible tongue from the bar into engagement with the lip ofthe card, providing a recess in the bar for receiving the metal tab, andproviding a latch on the bar for securing the bar in engagement with thecard and the chassis.

[0022] As can be seen, the principal advantages of these embodiments arethat the card retainer spans the entire length of the mounted cards andis capable of captivating the assembly of cards in one movement withoutthe use of screws. This allows for easier access to the expansion cards,thereby permitting faster installation time and end user accessibility.

[0023] The hinged retainer, configured with a snap in place feature,will eliminate screws used to secure the cards by using extruded holesengaged with chassis tabs that will replace the function of the mountingscrews. The retainer is closed using a snap rather than screws. Byeliminating screws, assembly time will be shortened, card damagereduced, and screw cost will be saved.

[0024] The retainer also incorporates two curved ribs that allow auniform distribution of pressure across each individual card. Previousdesigns did not have this and cards towards the center of the beam didnot receive ample pressure to be locked in place.

[0025] Although illustrative embodiments have been shown and described,a wide range of modification, change and substitution is contemplated inthe foregoing disclosure and in some instances, some features of theembodiment may be employed without a corresponding use of otherfeatures. Accordingly, it is appropriate that the appended claims beconstrued broadly and in a manner consistent with the scope of theembodiments disclosed herein.

What is claimed is:
 1. An expansion card retainer comprising: anelongated bar; a plurality of flexible tongues extending from a surfaceof the bar; a plurality of recesses formed in the surface of the bar,each of the recesses being adjacent a respective one of the flexibletongues; and a flexible latch extending from the bar.
 2. The retainer asdefined in claim 1 wherein the bar includes a curved load distributionmember.
 3. The retainer as defined in claim 1 wherein each flexibletongue is a cantilever member formed on the bar.
 4. The retainer asdefined in claim 1 wherein the bar includes a first end having a pivotalconnection.
 5. The retainer as defined in claim 4 wherein the barincludes a second end opposite the first end, the second end includingthe latch.
 6. A computer chassis comprising: a wall including aplurality of card slots formed therein; a metal tab extending from thewall adjacent each slot; a bar having a first end pivotally attached tothe chassis; a plurality of flexible tongue members on the bar, eachtongue member being adjacent a respective slot; a plurality of recessesin the bar for respectively receiving each metal tab; and a latch on asecond end of the bar, opposite the first end, for securing the bar inengagement with the chassis.
 7. The chassis as defined in claim 6wherein the bar includes a curved load distribution member.
 8. Thechassis as defined in claim 6 wherein the flexible tongue members arecantilever members formed in the bar.
 9. The chassis as defined in claim6 wherein the latch is a flexible member.
 10. A computer systemcomprising: a chassis having a plurality of card slots formed therein; amicroprocessor mounted in the chassis; a storage coupled to themicroprocessor; a video controller coupled to the microprocessor; amemory coupled to provide storage to facilitate execution of computerprograms by the microprocessor; a metal tab extending from the chassisadjacent each slot; a bar pivotally attached to the chassis; a flexibletongue on the bar adjacent each card slot; a plurality of recesses inthe bar for respective engagement with each metal tab; and a latch forsecuring the bar in engagement with the chassis.
 11. The system asdefined in claim 10 wherein the bar includes a curved load distributionmember.
 12. The system as defined in claim 10 wherein the flexibletongue is a cantilever member formed in the bar.
 13. The system asdefined in claim 10 wherein the bar includes a first end pivotallyattached to the chassis.
 14. The system as defined in claim 13 whereinthe bar includes a second end opposite the first end, and the latch is aflexible member on the second end of the bar.
 15. A computer systemcomprising: a chassis having a wall including a plurality of card slotsformed in the wall; a microprocessor mounted in the chassis; a videocontroller coupled to the microprocessor; a memory coupled to providestorage to facilitate execution of computer programs by themicroprocessor; a metal tab extending from the wall adjacent each slot;a pivotable bar attached to the chassis; flexible means on the baradjacent each slot for engaging a card installed in the respective slot;recess means in the bar for receiving each metal tab; and means forsecuring the bar in engagement with the chassis.
 16. An expansion cardretainer comprising: a computer chassis including card slots formed in awall of the chassis; a metal tab extending from the wall adjacent eachslot; a card mounted adjacent each slot; a lip extending from each card,each lip engaged with a respective metal tab; a pivotable bar attachedto the chassis; a flexible tongue on the bar for engagement with eachcard; a recess in the bar for engagement with each metal tab; and alatch for securing the bar in engagement with the chassis.
 17. Theretainer as defined in claim 16 wherein the bar includes a curved loaddistribution member.
 18. The retainer as defined in claim 16 wherein theflexible tongue is a cantilever member formed in the bar.
 19. Theretainer as defined in claim 16 wherein the bar includes a first endpivotally attached to the wall.
 20. The retainer as defined in claim 19wherein the bar includes a second end opposite the first end, and thelatch is a flexible member on the second end of the bar.
 21. A method ofretaining an expansion card comprising: providing a computer chassiswith a card slot formed in a chassis wall; extending a metal tab fromthe wall adjacent the slot; mounting a card adjacent the slot; extendinga lip of the card into engagement with the metal tab; providing a barpivotally attached to the chassis; extending a flexible tongue from thebar into engagement with the lip of the card; providing a recess in thebar for receiving the metal tab; and providing a latch on the bar forsecuring the bar in engagement with the card and the chassis.